Ever struggled to focus on reading the Bible? You’re not alone! Today, I want to talk about one of my favorite ways to read and focus on God’s Word. It’s called "lectio divina," which is Latin for “divine reading.”

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This practice was used by Christians long before it was common for individuals to be able to read or have a Bible of their own. Lectio divina is a four-step process that allows us to chew on God’s Word, reflecting on the story of the good news of Jesus no matter what Bible passage we read, because the whole Bible centers around Jesus’s life, death, resurrection, and return. The four steps are read, pray, meditate, and contemplate.

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1. Read: Begin by reading or listening to a Bible passage out loud. After that, take a moment or two just to sit with what you’ve heard.

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1. Meditate: Read or listen to the same Bible passage out loud again, keeping an eye out for words or phrases that stick out to you.

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1. Pray: Read or listen to the Bible passage again. After that, take a moment to pray about the word(s) that stuck out to you. You can talk to God about what you liked or didn’t like, things you have questions about, etc.

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1. Contemplate: Read or listen to the Bible passage one last time. Finally, take a moment to focus on the word(s) that stuck out to you, resting in God’s love and in the unshakeable hope of Jesus’s life, death, resurrection, and return. • Kandi Zeller

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• Every word of the Bible points to Jesus. He is fully human and fully God, and He offers rescue from sin and death to all who put their trust in His death and resurrection. How can meditating on these truths help us as we read Scripture?

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“All the prophets testify about him [Jesus] that through his name everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins.” Acts 10:43 (CSB)